Brooke

The pain in my right foot started five years ago, when I was 11. I always thought pain is something that goes away. I didn’t know there was a thing called chronic pain.

Over time the pain became more severe. I wasn’t sure how to cope with it. I was very confused.

I ended up having cortisone injections, and then opioids (OxyContin) twice a day, for two years. I also took Endep at night, to help me sleep.

It took 18 months to get a diagnosis. I saw 11 different health professionals and had so many unanswered questions.

At school I was always the girl with a boot on her foot, or on crutches, and it made me the target for bullies.

Teachers weren’t very supportive either. They called me an OH&S problem because of the crutches, which meant staying home for a whole term.

It was a very isolating, lonely time. I also felt drowsy and unwell, due to the painkillers. And I had to give up competitive swimming.

It took until I was 14 to find the right help, at a pain management clinic at the Children’s Hospital Westmead.

The clinic taught me many new techniques to manage the pain without painkillers, and changed my perspective of pain.

Today I still live with pain. But I’ve learned to cope with it, and live my life despite it.

I think we need greater awareness of chronic pain in Australia and in our schools, so that kids can get the support they need, and don’t have to go through what I went through.